Book Review: An engaging read

Title: Falmouth of my Childhood

Author: Yolanda N. Mittoo

Reviewer: Barbara Nelson

Yolanda Mittoo has written a very engaging book on her childhood memories of life in Falmouth, the capital of Trelawny.

In the introduction to the 227-page book, she notes that many of the older folks in her grandmother's and mother's age group have passed on without recording the Falmouth they knew as children. So, now that she has "joined the older folk and may also 'soon pass on'," she was prompted to tell the history of that time.

The book has 31 chapters. The author launches into her memories of Falmouth, in her opinion, the best laid-out town in the region. The town is laid out in squares, following a grid-iron plan, and the street names - Duke, King, Queen, Princess, Victoria, Albert and other such names-bear its strong colonial heritage.

Richest parish

Trelawny, originally part of St James, was the richest parish in Jamaica when 'sugar was king'. It was the first town in the western hemisphere to have piped water. Water from the Martha Brae River was, as early as 1799, pumped to a large stone tank in the middle of the town square. Hence the name 'Water Square'.

The many chapters include Religion and Churches, the Trelawny Parish Church, Education, Falmouth Elementary 'Barracks' School, The Harbour, Communication and Infrastructure, Transportation, Flora and Fauna, Personalities, Death, Funerals and Burials, Weddings and Christmas.

This is by no means a stuffy history book. In fact, Mittoo's relaxed approach to the presentation of historical material makes reading very pleasant. She gives detailed recollections of customs and personalities and often brings the reader right into the subject she is discussing. On page 25, for example, in the chapter 'The Trelawny Parish Church', she begins a paragraph, "Let me now tell you about the people aspect of the church."

Do you know what to do if a visitor is overstaying his/her time? Mittoo writes that it was the custom in her childhood days to get a broom, sprinkle some salt and black pepper in the centre, keep it upside down and then place it behind the door nearest to where the guest is seated. The person will most certainly leave shortly!

In the chapter 'Houses, Housing and Accessories', the author gives a comprehensive picture of the places where most people lived in her childhood. There were no block-and-steel houses in Falmouth then. Kitchens, bathrooms and toilets were outhouses. Commodes were used mainly for elderly people. There was at least one chenille bedspread (also called candlewick spread) in each house. This special item was brought out at Christmas or when special guests were visiting.

Mittoo's relaxed approach to the presentation of historical material makes reading very pleasant.